bodies as the earth and mettals or into diaphane and transparent bodies as aire and water Or these kind of bodies some haue being onely as Stones some life and being as Trées some sense life and being as Beasts and others vnderstanding sense life and being as Man which is most noble of all other and therefore the Philosophers haue called him Microcosmus a little World which doth respond vnto the greater for as the motion of the whole glove is caused by the voluntary motion of an intellectuall substance which some call Daemones or Intelligentiae so man is moued by his intellectiue soule because as Aristotle hath proued Euery thing that is moued is moued by the vertue of another And as this most wonderfull frame or Machina doth containe all things in it selfe because Extra coelum nihil est so man by knowledge is all and at all nothing natural is hid from him being not without motions affectations equall to that glorious heauenly Hierarchie And to end this respondency betwixt Microcosmus and Cosmus betwixt Man and the World in man are two motions intellectuall sensuall the one to good the other to bad so in the world are two locall motions rationall and irrationall the one into the West the other into the East for as the irrationall motion is contrary to the rationall so is the intellectuall to the sensuall Man thus resembling the heauens became a Christian taking the denomination thereof from Christ Iesus being the proper name and Christ the surname Iesus being the name of his God-head and diuinity and Christ the name of his office and dignity Iesus in Gréeke being called Sother in Latine Saluator in English both signifying a Sauiour and in conclusion note from S. Bernard 4 creations of man The first without man woman as Adam out of the earth The second of man without woman as Euah of Adams rib the third of man woman as we are the 4 of a virgin without man as Christ of Mary CHAP. II. The definition of the World THe world is Heauen and Earth all things therein contained as well simple as mixt and as Moses testifies was made by God The Latines call it Mundus à mouendo because it is in continuall motion it is called of the Gréekes Cosmus à pulchritudo because it is most faire and beautifull as well by reason of the Elements and such transparent bodies as by reason of the resplendency of the Sunne Moone and Starres for indeede what is more admirable to behold which caused Plato to say eyes were giuen to man to view the glory of heauen as may also appeare by Ouid. Os hominum sublime dedit coelumque videre For what is a more sure testimony of the wonderfull workes of God or what greater delight is there to them that truly vnderstand it then the beholding of the glory of the Sunne Moone and Starres in obseruing their motions vpon their Excentrickes and Concentricks in noting the diuersity of aspect and radiations with their retrogradations and directions their magnitudes and distances and such like As for the name of heauen it is called with the Latines Coelum quià coelatum est pictatum ornatum CHAP. III. Of the diuision of the World THe world is diuided into two parts or regions Elementary and Aethereall The Elementary part is subiect vnto daily alteration and doth containe the Fire Aire Water and Earth The Aethereall region doth containe in his concauity the Elementary region and this Aethereall region is called of some Quinta essentia the quint-essence or fist substance which is a body of it selfe differing from all Elements and things Elementall as well in matter as in forme and no lesse in nature and quality containing no contrariety and being without corruption such is heauen and the matter thereof but the Elements are farre of otherwise not simple but compounded of viscotions matter for a pure Element cannot be seene because that which is pure wanteth colour and that which wanteth colour is not visible and therefore the Elements intermingle themselues according to their propinquity so that an Element is that whereof any thing is compounded they are the first of compositions yet of themselues not compounded for they bee imagined simple bodies in respect of other bodies compound and mixt of these Elements euery part taketh name of the whole as euery part of water is water and euery part of fire is fire They be diuisible into parts of diuers formes and of the commixion of them is made and ingendred diuers things of sundry kinds as well things vegitatiue as sensitiue rationall or irrationall and euery of these Elements hath nourisheth therein liuing creatures as the Salamander in our fire which is but an imperfect element because it is mixt with viscotious and earthy matter the Camelion in the aire which there also liueth and Birds which there abide the fish in the water Moles and wormes in the earth and man and beast vpon the earth and you must know that euery body compounded of the foure Elements is elementary not that they be Elements formerly but vertually in mixt bodies CHAP. IIII. Of the Elementall part of the World IN the Elementall part of the world is contained the earth the water aire and fire the superficiall conuexity of euery one of these resting in the superficiall concauity of the next superiour Element and therefore the earth hangeth in the concauity of the water the water in the concauity of the aire and the aire in the concauity of the fire euen as you sée the scales of onions one inclosed in another Now for the earth it is a round body like vnto a ball darke and solid without any concauity hanging by the prouidence of God fixed in the middest of the world insomuch that if you were in any other part of the earth you should be no neerer vnto the heauens then you are in England which moued the Philosophers to say Stellae aequae distare à centro terrae siue in Oriente siue in Occidente c. And the Earth as you shall perceiue hereafter is but a point in respect of the Heauens and is by nature cold dry Next aboue the earth is the water the earth hanging in the concauity thereof they both indéed making but one round globe as may appeare by the eclypse of the Moone the seas being bounded and limited by the earth as may appeare by Psal 107 and Iob. 38. the water is of nature cold and moist in compassing the superficiall conuexity whereof is the aire and is diuided into thrée regions the inferiour superiour and meane the inferiour is warme by reason of the reflection of the Sunne beames reuerberated and beateu backe by the earth the superiour is hote by occasion of the proximity of the fire and there Comets and fiery Meteors are ingendred the meane is coldest as well by the remotenesse of the fiery region as also for that the reflection and reuerberation of
the sunne beames cannot extend so farre and here all watery meteors are created as snow and such like but the Element of aire of it selfe is warme and moist hanging in the concauity of the fire which is hote and dry so that each Element hath qualities of the other by participation as the aire doth participate with the fire in warmnesse with the water in moistnesse the earth with the water in coldnesse and with the fire in drinesse so that two elements be extreamely contrary as the fire warme and dry is contrary to the water cold and moist and the aire warme and most is contrary to the earth cold and dry so that there is in euery Element but one predominating quality called the qualitie passiue because they be contrary amongst themselues and cannot consist in euery Element as the fire exceedeth in heate the aire in moistnesse coldnesse in the water and drynesse in the earth and what other qualities they haue commeth by participation of the material vertue and natural commixtion of which Element all bodies perfect and vnperfect which are bodies mixt are ingendred For you must know that there is nothing in the world but is compounded hereof as stones take most of the nature of the earth mettals of the slimy nature of the water plants hearbs and all liuing things take most of the aire and yet all these haue part of the fire and therefore some stones as lime-stones and thunder-bolts take most of the fire other stones more of the water then earth as Christall Birrell Pearles and other participate more of the aire then earth as such that will not sinke so amongst mettals some participate more of one element then of another as lead and siluer of the earth quicke-siluer of the water copper of the aire and iron gold of the fire so may it be said of hearbs and plants the roots by their thicknesse participating most of the earth the leaues by their moistnesse of water the blossomes for their lightnesse of the aire and the seede by reason of the generatiue spirit of the fire so do all beasts participate more of one Element then another as is said before albeit some parts of them participate of the other Elements as bones of the earth flesh of the aire the spirit vitall of the fire and the humour of the water Likewise the senses of man bee attributed vnto the foure Elements as the vnderstanding to the fire the reason to the aire the imagination to the water feeling to the earth The like is of the outward senses the sight is appropriated to the fire for light is not without fire the hearing to the aire as caused by the reuerberation thereof the smell to the water for no smell is without moisture and the touching to the earth So be the acts of the body and passions of the mind attributed to the elements as mouing slowly to the earth feare and sorrow to the water ioy grace and maintenance to the aire anger fury and vnrest to the fire Let this suffice lest I be tedious CHAP. V. Of the Aethereall or Coelestiall part of the World THe celestiall part of the world called of some the Aethereal Region or Quinta essentia encompasseth and containeth in the concauity thereof all the Elementall Region And this celestiall part hath in it the seuen Planets their spheares the starry Firmament the Christalline Heauen the First Mouer and the Emperiall Heauen as shall follow Of the first Heauen The Philosophers had no knowledge of this Emperiall Heauen onely the Scriptures teach vs to beleiue the saine and is called the Emperiall Heauen by reason of the clearenesse and resplendency It is immoueable made by God the first day he began his creation of the world and by him immediatly replenished with his ministers the holy Angels It is the foundation of the world most fine and pure in substance most round in shape most great in quantity most cleare in quality most high in place where as it is thought remaineth the humanity of Jesus Christ and hath therein thrée Hierarchias holy orders or principalities called Epiphonia Epiphonomia and Euphumia and these are called of some Supercoelestiall Coelestiall and Subcoelestiall Now the first hath in it thrée orders as Seraphins Cherubins and Thrones The first excelling in zealous loue the second in knowledge and the third in iustice Epiphonomia hath likewise thrée orders as Principalities teaching inferiours duty to their superiours Powers chasing away euill spirits comforting such as fight in ghostly battell and Dominations teaching men how to behaue themselues in spirituall conflicts Lastly Euphumia or Subcoelestiall hath also vnder it thrée lower orders as Vertues for comforters Archangels shewing miracles and Angels working miracles to conclude here is the aboundance of all goodnesse and perfect felicity with the priuation of euill CHAP. VI. Of the first Moueable VNder the Emperiall Heauen is situate the First Moueable called Primum Mobile containing all other inferiour Spheares and by his naturall motion moueth from East to West and to the East againe in foure and twenty houres and by violence of this motion carrieth with him all the inferiour Spheares contrary to their proper motion which is to the East and many Philosophers thinke that if this motion were not flackened by the contrary course of the inferiour Spheares that the frame of Heauen and Earth would be torne in péeces and nothing prosper or remaine by reason of the violence thereof This Heauen is puce and cleare without starres CHAP. VII Of the Christalline Heauen THe Christalline Heauen is also a cleare substance void of Starres not subiect to the sight perlucid transparent and most slow in motion mouing according to the succession of the signes one degree in 100 yeares and accomplishing a full reuolution in 36000 yeares but according to Alfonsus in 49000 yeares The reason why this heaueÌ„ doth require so long a time is because of the neernesse thereof to the first Moueable which turneth this heauen the rest about with him by a contrary motion as is said and therefore the nearer any Spheare is to the first Mouer the longer is he in accomplishing his revolution This reuolution of some is called Magâ—nus annus Platonis because when it was compleat he thought all things should returne to the estate they were at first This Heauen is called of some the watery Heauen by the authority of Scriptures Gen. chap. 1. and in the Psalmes All the waters aboue the firmament c. CHAP. VIII Of the Starry Heauen THis Firmament is a most glorious heauen adorned beautified with all the fixed starres whose naturall motion is vpon two little circles the one about the head of Aries the other of Libra whose diameters is 4 deg 18 min. and 43 sec and is called the motion of Trepidation but indeed the motion of this heauen is thrée-fold for first it turneth about from East to West in foure and twenty houres according to the
at what time the Sunne hath runne through Aries Taurus and Gemini if the Spring be much moist the fruite will bee rotten and scarce but wéedes will abound if hoate the trées soone bring forth leaues the fruits of that quarter as Cheries c. will soone be ripe which being not gathered before their full maturity will bee subiect to wormes especially in warme regions but it is seldome with vs though frequent in Italy Roses will bee frome but not so swéete all such things shal better please the sight then that sent or tast if it bee cold and dry there will hoare frosts fall in the end of the quarter according to the full Moone the wine and fruits will be scarce being dry and not hot fruits will bee scarce but good with want of graine if it be cold the fruits will be late riping if it be wet with much South wind and the former Winter dry with Northen winds the next Summer will happen agues and bleerenesse dropping of the eyes and paine of the bowels A dry Spring with much Northen winds and a wet Winter full of Southerne winds going before causeth women with child to bee deliuered before their time or to bring forth weake children Gal. l. 3. Aphor. 3. So that if the quarter vary from his proper nature the commodities of the earth be made worse and scarce the ordinary diseases of this quarter bee leaprosies red spots tooth-ach feuers of bloud pushes or wheales in the face small-pox ring-wormes falling-sickenesse paines in the throate and necke the Kings euill wens griefes in the shoulders and armes causes by bloud Of Sommer SOmmer is of nature hot and dry like the fiery tryplicity or like the chollericke if taketh beginning when the Sun entreth Cancer continuing vntil he haue passed ouer Cancer Leo and Virgo and now is rage and choller most abounding being the hottest time 〈◊〉 the yeare but in the begining there rise certainâ—â—â—arres in Cancer whose vertue is to make moist especially Aselli so that the Sunne comming to them some raine falleth to fructify the earth but comming to Leo beeing neere Syrius and Procyon starres of a warme nature the heat groweth most vehement to temperate which the Etesian winds blow Lastly comming to Virgo which is a barren signe the constellation of Arcturus rising a mittigation of heat is produced with some raine If Sommer be ouer wet the Sommer fruits shall putrify and there will bee but small store of graine there will be many sickenesses if it be onely dry there will happen want of graine and Sommer fruits will be wholsome the fishes shall die in waters great sicknesses will happen if it exceede in heat many sicknesses also will happen with great store of Sommer friutes if to conclude it bee cold the yeare will bee wholsome but the fruits rotten This quarter as it is hot and dry in nature so doth it accordingly alter the humors in mans body bringing all fruits to their ripenesse cattell to their fatnesse and men to their wealth the sicknesses agreeing to the nature thereof bee griefes and torments about the breast ribbes and spléene pushes leprosy and diseases of the face as in the Spring bleard and sore eyes with other impediments therein the plurisy cough heart and stomacke-aking sorrow vexations feuers of bloud apostumes pestilence feuers the ianndise paines in the belly and secret parts with other infirmities proceeding of melancholy Of Autumne AUtumne is the fourth and last quarter Astronomicall but the third according to our English accompt by nature is cold and dry melancholy like old age resembling the element of the earth beginning at the Sunnes first ingresse into Libra producing thereby a second Equinoctiall cocquating the daies with the nights which may also be called our second Spring making an apt time to take Physicke bléed c. but in that Libra is a signe of the Airy triplicity there is produced heat with temperate moisture but comming to Scorpio the aire is made more cold and moist for Scorpio is of the watry triplicity but comming to Sagitarius a signe of the fiery triplicity accompanied with certaine starres of a warme nature there is made a restraint of the extremity of wet and cold for the good of such as sow plow If Autumne be most moist grapes will be putrified and wine bad if the end be wet there will be want of fruite the insuing yeare if the beginning be dry there will be penuria Milij if hot many sickenesses and euils if cold there is losse of haruest fruits in quantity iuyce and beauty The diseases of this quarter properly be paines in the backe darknesse of sight retention of vrine fluxes of bloud paynes in the backe and priuy parts with infirmities in the face as in the Spring also the canker fistuloes emrods the stone and grauell feuers of bloud and impediments in the eies And here note that Winter in Latine Hyems is so called ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is dimidium for the vulgar people doe diuide the yeare into two parts Sommer and Winter Winter being the greater Ver the Spring is so called à vireo vires because then omnia virent all things flourish Aestas Sommer is so called ab aestu which is à feruore by reason of heat Lastly Autumnus Autumne or Haruest is so called à bonorum anni augmentatione or it taketh name with Hipocrates ab ortu Arcturi during till the Vespertine setting of the Pleiades or of Autumnus which is morbidum or tempestiuosum these foure times be resembled to the foure Regions of the world to the foure Cardinall winds to the foure Elements to the foure quarters to the foure humors to the foure ages as in the ensuing table  Warme and dry Hot moist Cold moist Cold dry Regions of the world Oriens Meri Occid Septe Cardinall winds East South West North 4 Elements Fyre Ayre Water Earth 4 Quarters of the yeare Sommer Spring Wint. Autu 4 Humors Cholor Sangu Fleame MelaÌ„ â— Ages Youth Ma. sta Age old ag CHAP. XXX Certaine predictions of the weather in euery moneth with necessary abstracts and the Poeticall rising of the Starres Ianuary NEw-yeares day in the morning being red portends great tempest and warre after ryseth Orions girdle Vespertine troubling the ayre causing South-west winds the 10 and 11 day doth Lucida Corona produce by a Vespertine setting about which time also riseth Asellus and praesepe great causers of raine the more Iupiter being in moist signes the 12 day Asellus riseth Cosmicall the 13 Praesepe setteth Cosmicall the 20 the South part of Asellus ryseth Chronicall the 28 Sirius riseth Vespertinus the 30 Eagle riseth Cosmicall All which with Ptolemaeus bring wet and tempest some say if the Sun shine the 12 of Ianuary there shall be much winde others Prognosticate of Saint Pauls day saying if the Sunne shine it is token of a happy yeare if raine or snow indifferent if misty great death but
proportion is not found Of Winde Winde is nothing but many exhalations drawn from the earth inforced laterally aboue the sun Of Sodaine Blasts A windy exhalation being throwne downe and encompassed as Pliny saith in a thin course of cloudes newly ouer-cast comming at some time with such a violence as it bursts cleaues a drye cloud in sunder makes a storme of the Greekes called Ecnephias but when this cleft is not great but that the windes vs forced to turne round role in this discent without lighting there is made a whirle-puffe or ghust called Typhon which is to say the storme Ecnephias sent forth winding violence this winde doth beare many things away with it changing from place to place but if the hole in the cloud were great it is called Turbo casting downe and ouerthrowing all that is next it Pliny saith no Ecnephias commeth with snow nor no Typhon from the South some say vinegar throwne into this wind breakes the gust Of Earth-quakes Plenty of windes gotten into the bowels holes corners of the earth bursting out of the earth the earth closing againe causeth the shaking or earth-quake and is a token of insuing warre Signes of Earth-quakes When waters in well or pits be troubled and haue a bad sauour the long absence of the windes strange noises the obscurity or darknesse of the Sunne with clouds and strangly coloured c. Of Thunder and Lightnings When an exhalation hote and dry mixt with moisture is carried vp into the middle region and there inclosed in the body of a cloud Now these two contraries being thus shut or pent vp in one roome together they fall at variance whereby the water and fire agree not vntill they haue broken the prison wherein they were pent so that fire and water flye out of the cloud the breaking whereof maketh a noise like the renting of cloath which we call thunder and the fire lightning the thunder being made first but the lightning first séene in respect the sight is before the hearing and of lightnings there be many sorts That which is dry burneth not at all dissipating and dispersing that which is moist burneth not likewise but blasts and altereth the colour but that which is cleare is of a strange operation it draweth vessels dry without hurt to the vessell it melteth mettall in bagges or purses and hurteth not the bagge or purse nor the waxe that sealed the bagge hurt it breaketh the bones and hurteth not the flesh and killeth the childe in the wombe not hurting the mother Pliny saith Scythia by reason of cold and AEgypt by reason of heate haue seldome lightning What things be not hurt with lightning It hurteth not the Lawrel tree it entreth not past 5 foot into the earth such that are shadowed with the skinnes of Seales or Sea-calues are fréed the Eagle is frée c. Many other wondrous strange kind of Meteors bee there in the heauens often times séene as Comets burning Dragons c. but this volume will not containe an ample discourse thereof CHAP. XXVIII Diuerse signes to prognosticate what weather is towards TO begin first with the Sunne the best prognosticator of all other if he rise cleare not fiery red if he chase the clouds before him into the West if at Sunne-rising there be a circle about the Sunne and it vanish equally away if he be red at setting all these argue faire wether to insue But if he be fiery red at his rising if he shew pale and wan if at rising hée séeme hollow if red and blacke cloudes be about him at his rising or if his raies be red both at a rising and setting if his beames at a morning or euening be contracted or short if it raine at Sunne-setting or his raies looke darke or blew or gather if at his rising his beames séeme not bright and cleare if before his rising the cloudes gather like globes mouing not into the west if a circle of cloudes appeare incompassing the Sunne leauing not all his light if his circle about the Sun be broke if at his rising hee cast his beames a farre off amongst the cloudes if he spread his beames before he be vp if at his setting he be ouercast with a thicke misse all these signifie wet and often tempestious wether Also looke if the circle called Halo be blacke for if signifieth raine and if it breake winds from that part as the fraction in the circle respecteth Presages by the Moone According to the Aegyptians if on the Prime day the Moone be faire and bright it will be faire if red windes if dimme and blackish fowle wether according to the verse Pallidaluna pluit rubicunda slat alba serenat Marke the typs of her hornes when she is fiue dayes old with Pl. But best when she is primed if they be blunt raine if pricking vpward and sharpa-pointed windes Pliny saith these things fall truest vpon the fourth day If her vpper horne which bends northwards bee onely sharpe and pricked winds from that coast but if the nether horne be so windes from the South if the fourth day after her change she haue a red circle or Halo about her windes and raine Varro saith when the Moone is 4 dayes old if shée put her hornes direct and straight forth it is tempest at sea vnlesse there bee a cleare circle about her If the one halfe of the full Moone séeme pure faire wether if red windes if blackish raine mistes and cloudes about the Moone haue like effect as Halo the more the worse whilest the new Moone is Croissant and rising with the vpper tip of her horne blackish telleth of wet after the full but then other tip being so raine before the full and if as Varro saith this blackishnesse appeare in the middest of the Moone raine at the full a circle about the full Moone declareth windes from that part that the circle is most splendant if her hornes at her rising shew more grosse thicke then ordinary looke for raine plentiously and that before long if she appeare not before the Prime the West winde blowing withall cold winter-like wether all that Moone Lastly with Pliny there bee 8 points in euery Moone and so many dayes according as shee falleth vpon the angles of the Sunne which many onely obserue and take their presages of future wetherby to wit the 3.7.11.15.19.21.27 and the very day of coniunction Presages by the Starres Next vnto the Moone we may place the Starres if the Starres séeme to shoote windes from that quarter the Starre came from the wetter the Spring and Sommer the dryer the Autumne Autumne faire and dry bringeth a windy Winter a circle about any of the other Planets great showers if the cloud in Cancer called Praesepe or the manger standing betwixt Aselli or the little Asses appeare not though otherwise the aire bée cleare fowle winterlike wether if the Northerne of these starres bee hid great windes from the South but the other being
hid North-east windes Of the Raine-bow If two Raine-bowes appeare raine a Raine-bow presently after raine faire wether Presages from Thunder and Lightning If in sommer there be more thunder then lightning windes from the coast it thundred but if the lightning excéed raine lightning without thunder betokens raine and thunder if it lighten only from the North-west raine the ensuing day if from the North windes thence if from the South-North-west or full west if lighten especially in the night winde raine from those coasts morning thunder windes but mid-day thunder raine Presages by the Cloudes If the racke ride apace in the aire windes from that coast they come the worse if it come from the North or South if at Sunne-set the racks ride on both sides fromwards him tempest blacke cloudes flying out of the East rains at night but from the west raine the next day if the cloudes bee disparkled many together of the East flying like fléeces of wooll raine for 3 daies after when cloudes flye low séeming to settle vpon the tops of hils cold wether insueth but the mountaine tops being faire and cleare the wether will take vp if the cloudes séeme full charged and yet looke white withall which constitution of the aire is called by some Towers by others white wether haile is at hand If mistes come downe from the hils or descend from the Heauens and settle in the Valleyes it promiseth faire hot wether mists in the euening shew a hot day on the morrow The like when white mistes rise from waters in the Euening Prognostications by fires From the heauens we will procéed to our common fires The fire burning pale or kéeping a huzzing noyse stormy wether if the flame of fire or candle mount winding and wauing as it were winds the like if the fire or candle goe out of it selfe or kindle and take fire with much adoe Further when you discerne many sparkles gather together in the fire knitting one to another the coales hanging to the bottome or side of the pot newly taken off the fire the fire raked in the imbers kéepeth a spitting and sparkling from it if the ashes vpon the earth grow together or when the liue coale shineth brighter or burneth more then ordinary all these be tokens of raine Prognostications by water If the sea within the hauen after the departing of the flood in a low ebbe water be calme yet kéep a noyse rumbling within winde if it do thus by fits cold wether and raine if in a calme season the sea strond or water-bankes resound or make a noise great tempest the like of the sea it selfe the puffins swimming aboue water tell of cold wether for many daies the sea being calme heauing and puffing vp sheweth there is great store of winds within her which will shortly breaks out to a tempest Prognostications from Fishes and Fowles The Dolphin disporting vpon the waues foreshewes winds if they fling and dash the water this and that way and the sea be rough faire wether the Cuttle or little Calamaria Loligo launcing and flying about the water the Cockles or Winckles sticking hard to the grauell the Seavrchings thrusting themselues into the mudde or couered with sand the croking extraordinary of Frogges the low flying of Swallowes the chirping of Sparrowes the crying of Peacockes and Hearnes the bathing of Crowes the stinging of of Flyes and Gnats the early straggling of Sea-mewes the proking of their fethers by the Guls Malards Duckes all foreshew winde or raine Contrary the Water-fowle gather together and combate or Cranes make haste to flye into the middest of the land or Cormorants and Guls forsaking the waters or Cranes soring quietly aloft or Crowes or Rauens gaying against the Sunne are all tokens of faire wether But if the Howlat cry Chi-uit raine Rauens crying one to another as if they sobbed and vexed clapping themselues with their wings windes but doing it by interualles of time wet and winde the late returning home of Iacke-dawes hard wether also that working of the spinner the busie heauing of Moles the appearing of wormes Hennes resorting to the roost couered with dust the Ante busied with her Egges the Bées in faire wether not wandring farre abroad Bels heard further then ordinary the wallowing of dogges the alteration of the crowing of the Cocke befoken all fowle wether Prognostications of foure-footed Beasts The leaping and playing of shéepe such small cattell shew alteration of wether the crying of Swine Oxen beasts licking themselues against the haire or holding vp their nose and smelling into to the aire swine shaking hay or such like stuffe beasts eating gréedily or licking their hooues or sodainly moue here and there all signifie raine or fowle wether Prognostications from woods stones c. The hearbe Trefoile looketh rough against a tempest and the leaues thereof will stand staring vp as if it were afraid thereof Also if dishes stones or such like sweate or be wet if wainescot doores that ioyne well be stubborne to open if salt dissolue in the salt-saller or any solid body sweate looke for great raine the like is séene by the pissing of Dogges If there bee a rumbling noise or sounding in the mountaines and forrests or if the leaues of trées flicker and play themselues no winde stirring which foretell some change of wether the like prediction is gathered by the light downe of Poplares or Thistles flying to and fro in the aire looke what is said of the noise in forrests vnderstand the same here in vallyes and in the aire I cannot stand to runne into an ample discourse of this subiect lest I driue the quantity of my volume beyond my intent but they shall be amply handled in a Booke I haue to come forth called Cosmologia Meteorologia CHAP. XXIX Of the foure quarters of the yeare and first of Winter VVINTER the first quarter Astronomical taketh his beginning when the Sunne entreth into Capricorne during vntill he haue gone to the latter part of Pisces it is the coldest time of the yeare and the colder and dryer the wholsomer yet ouer much cold killeth trees in a warme region especially such that bee tender A warme and moist Winter is vnwholsome and an enemy to husbandmen but reasonable store of snow doth ranken the fields and preserue corne The diseases of this quarter bee pushes in the face leprosie tooth-ach red-spots feuers the scab fluxes of bloud by the inferiour parts paines of the eyes palsies gouts and such like Of the Spring THe Spring is the most comfortablest quarter in all the yeare and is of nature warme and moist for then the Sunne draweth neere to the Zenith comming towards the starres of a warme nature and then that East-winds blow dispearcing the superfluous humors making the earth apt to bring forth all things for the good and comfort of man This quarter beginneth when the Sunne entreth into Aries at what time the dayes and nights be equal and continueth vntill the 12 of Iune